The Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative Now Accepting Applications

Ottawa, Ontario, January 19, 2011 - The Government of Canada is investing in a national traceability system for livestock which will provide more market opportunities and strengthen the industry for the long term. The Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative (LATI) is a key component of the system and today, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that applications are now being accepted for projects beginning April 1, 2011.

The Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative is a three-year up to $20 million initiative funded under the Agricultural Flexibility Fund as part of the Economic Action Plan. It will allow Canadian auction marts, assembly yards, feedlots, backgrounders, fairs and exhibitions, privately-managed community pastures and other high-risk, high-volume, co-mingling sites to upgrade their facilities and purchase traceability equipment to help in the identification and tracing of individual animals.

Consumers and a growing number of markets are looking for enhanced traceability. This initiative will work to strengthen traceability at high-risk, high-volume sites where animals from different herds co-mingle and to protect the security of the Canadian food supply. This quick and effective tracking will also help the industry avoid potential animal and food safety risks and mitigate the spread if an outbreak occurs. This will, in turn, help maintain a healthy and profitable industry for the future.

This initiative builds upon federal-provincial-territorial Growing Forward investments and will complement existing provincial and territorial programs that contribute to traceability enhancements.

For information on how to apply for the program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/lati.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, ON
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972